This pack is like a Russian doll. The more you delve into it, the more you find. Trying it out for the first time I was just amazed at all the little details that it has, all of which are there specifically to aid your adventure or race. Tucked away in it, you’ll find a tiny whistle, a reflective tag, a key clip, a little pouch for storing trash and there’s even an insulating pouch to keep your water bladder cool; all excellent details that will come in handy on a long run in the mountains.
Pros: Loads of useful pockets and details, excellent overall design
Cons: nothing
The Adv Skin comes in a number of different sizes. I tested the 12-litre size and have become a big, big fan. In fact, it’s hard to fault it. Salomon have achieved a really difficult task with this thing, packing in loads of clever design details but without making the pack fussy.
For me, it’s the ideal size for a long trail race or ultra marathon, providing plenty of space for mandatory race kit and more. It’s marked as a 12-litre pack but the stretchy pockets will allow you to carry way more than 12 litres of kit. It’s suitable for shorter distances too. I’ve found myself going out for runs with this thing just to have somewhere to keep my phone and some snacks – it’s not heavy or saggy and flappy when it’s empty and it’s comfortable to wear, so why not use it? I hate running with my phone bouncing around in the pocket of my shorts, so it solves that problem for me.
Sizing
I’m 5 foot 10 and weigh about 11 and a half stone. I’ve tested this in a medium and it fits me really nicely. To find the right size for you, Salomon recommend measuring around the widest point on your chest with a tape measure and then using the sizing chart on their website.
Pockets and Storage Options
There are loads of pockets here – on the front and on the back. Some are zipped and some are stretch mesh dump pockets. If you wanted to, you could keep snacks for a whole day of running stashed on the front. There’s also space for a folded up map.
